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How Folks Really Feel About the Soda Ban

Our unscientific sample found New Yorkers have mixed feelings about the soda ban.

By Erin Hicks

Last Updated: September 13, 2012

New York City Soda Ban

Richard Drew /AP Photo

The New York City Board of Health voted to approve a 16-ounce limit on the sale of sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters, and delis. We took to the street to gauge New Yorkers' reactions to the proposed ban. Our completely unscientific sample, taken from the West Village and Soho neighborhoods, found reactions ranging from outrage to indifference. Read on to find out what New Yorkers had to say.

Lauren Smith, Manhattan, 26

"I think it's a good impulse. I don't think it'll change anything because people will just buy two or three sodas, but I think soda is horrible for you. I am conflicted, because I think soda is a huge factor to why people are obese, but I also think people should be able to do what they want to a certain degree."

Scott Ceffalia, Long Island, 43

"It's a waste. It's not enough to really make a difference. People need to stop eating. And obviously we don't like to be told what to do."

Johnny Santo Spirito, Manhattan, 50

"I think it's in the hands of parents and consumers to decide what they want to do and don't want to drink. I drink soda maybe once a month, but I still think it's infringing on our rights as U.S. citizens. It's not against the law to drink soda, so why should a certain size be banned?"

Dana Vaccaro, Brooklyn, 35

"I think it's ridiculous. It's a waste of our time. We should be focusing on bigger issues than that. We should focus on safety in the city, crime is up in the parks— we should be talking about that, not whether or not people are drinking less than 16-ounces of soda."

Ben Milner, Manhattan, 27

"[New York City Mayor Michael] Bloomberg sucks for a lot of reasons. He wants to put tolls in, I can't smoke in parks, there are too many bus lanes, he doesn't want to regulate bikers, and now he wants to control how much soda we drink. If we want to smoke we should be able to smoke, and if we want to drink soda we should be able to drink it, and as much of it as we want. I should be able to take a bath in soda if I want."

Annette Osnos, Manhattan, 54

"It almost feels to me that we're looking through the wrong end of this telescope. The minutiae of it disturbs me. Just reducing the size of what people are buying won't stop them from consuming large quantities. I was happier to hear that McDonald's is now posting the calorie count on their menus. I appreciate why Bloomberg thinks symbolically this is a good thing, but unfortunately I think the day-to-day difference won't be significant."